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I have come to the conclusion, that it would be handy to have a mech hanger alignment tool in the toolbox.
Reasoning for this is that recently, a few of us have had incidents resulting in need for new hangers plus to straighten things out.
So...
Stepping away from the pro-level shop ones, what would be a good buy for reasonable money?
Cyclus?
Thanks.
I and many on here have the genetic one that is sold under a few names. Wiggle etc still sell it I assume.
It has a little play in the pivot point but you just allow for it when adjusting.
It was a lot cheaper when I bought it though!
This one is cheaper and looks a little more sophisticated if anything. I've not got one though.
Yep, I'm with Poop on that one. It certainly does the job and you can hold it against the play when using so not a problem. When I asked on here I was told the more pro ones also have a bit of play.
I have the X Tools one, although I only paid £20 for it a good few years ago. It works fine. The play isn't really an issue and hasn't affected the accuracy. I've fixed poor shifting issues on two bikes with it so it has paid for itself already. A good little tool.
However, the Park Tool one has much more heft to it so probably better for straightening really bent hangers, rather than those only slightly out of alignment. The price of the X Tools one has gone up so for £20 more you can have the Park Tool one.
Mine is literally an old rear cup-and-cone axle- the threads are the same- and whatever straight edge I can find in the garage. Thread in, straighten against straight edge, sorted. It's actually quicker and more convenient than the official tools I've used, though, it does need more thought/care
M10 fine pitch bolt, couple of washers, couple of nuts and a length of aluminium box section, £5-£10 all in.
I have a Lifeline one in my own workshop and have used the Park professionally. I much prefer the former.
i have the cyclus one
have used the park one professionally
Neither here nor there - long as it screws in to the stop and has some way of measuring the distance from the rim at the 4 points.
I have the Park one. It does the job, but I doubt it's much better than anything else or any of the homemade jobbies above. But it's there, ready to go and has straightened many hangers now.
Parktool 2.2 - had it a few years used it many times, no complaints..
I've made my own with aluminium box section, an old shimano threaded axle n cones and an old depth gauge off a drill that broke, works a treat.
I used to use an old wheel (QR axle method mentioned above) - now I've got one of those ZTTO's linked above. Bit smaller and more convenient, mine was £23 off ebay a few months ago. Ultimately though if I'd had the materials to hand I'd have been happy with a home made bodge - they're pretty simple agricultural things - the old wheel is the best imo if you have one lying around, as you get an immediate 360 degree view of the alignment when adjusting.